ITD (Interaural Time Difference)

Interaural Time Difference (ITD) is the small difference in the arrival time of a sound between the two ears. When a sound comes from one side, it reaches the closer ear slightly earlier than the other. The brain uses this tiny timing difference—often just microseconds—to determine the direction of the sound source. ITD is especially important for localizing low-frequency sounds and helps us pinpoint where sounds are coming from in our environment, allowing us to better understand and respond to what’s around us.